Disclaimer: None of my work belongs to me, it is solely the property of the one and only J.K. Rowling and any other company which has the copyright of Harry Potter, including Warner Bros. Nothing here belongs to me; all the characters are J.K. Rowling's originally, though any new character not part of the Harry Potter series belongs to me.
Title: Snapshots from a life together
Author: hpjkrowling4ever
The Ministry Gala
Three months after "Telling the secret", August 1998
"Why are we doing this again?" Ron groaned, leaning over Harry's shoe rack and holding up a pair of slippers. From where he was lying comfortably on his bed, Harry chuckled and glanced at Neville, who was sitting on the foot of his boyfriend's bed and going through Harry's clothes.
"Because you were the one who didn't want to let me choose the clothes for the Ministry Gala by myself." Harry answered. Neville snorted and looked despairingly over at Harry.
"If we let you choose, you'd let us all down. It's not like you're talking to the whole Wizarding population of Britain or anything." Neville said sarcastically, tapping Harry's ankle in admonishment. Harry rolled his eyes.
"Ginny or Hermione could've helped me." He replied. Ron sat down on the floor heavily.
"Harry, it's your first big public appearance since the War ended and it's with Neville. You're both going to be stepping into the Wizarding World for the first time as celebrities. As much as I love Hermione, and you know I do, I know that she wouldn't have the least idea what the Lord Black and the Lord Potter should wear to something as important as this. And Ginny's distracting her, so that's why she can't be here."
"And I, as the new Lord Longbottom, have been brought up by my Gran to know all of these traditions. And since you're going to be stepping into the public as the Saviour of the Wizarding World and Lord Black and Lord Potter, well, Ron and I are here to make sure that you get it right."
Harry closed his eyes and breathed heavily. After a few moments he cracked one eye open and peered at Neville.
"D'you think I could call in sick?" he queried, looking genuinely interested in the answer. Neville and Ron both rolled their eyes and went back to searching for the perfect outfit.
"I don't understand why what I'm wearing is so important." Harry groaned, sitting up on the bed and looking in horror at all the dress robes that Neville had laid out in front of him.
"Because you want to convey to everyone what your angle is going to be. Are you going to be austere, strong, kind? Are you going to make a good impression?" Ron said. He pulled out a very good pair of leather shoes and smiled triumphantly. "Aha! Here are the shoes, Neville."
"It's not like I'm going to be ruling the Wizarding World or anything." Harry said, looking over at Neville desperately.
"That's just the point, Harry." Neville leant over and squeezed Harry's hand. Harry twined their fingers together and squeezed back. "You will be. Pretty much, anyway. With both the Potter and Black fortunes and influence under your purview and with me as your boyfriend, you have seven seats in the Wizengamot at your disposal. Three for House Black, two for House Potter and two for House Longbottom. You saved the Wizarding World from certain destruction so nobody's ever going to let you get old. That means that you're going to have to be involved in politics, and since nobody's going to dare go up against you, then you're going to have significant influence."
Ron looked around the bedroom in Grimmauld Place distastefully. Though it was a lot better than it had been thanks to Kreacher's renewed enthusiasm, it still left a lot to be desired.
"And once you've finally sorted this place out, and organised the Potter and Black Ancestral Homes, then you've got yourself sorted for life pretty much." Ron walked over to the bed and ran an eye over the dress robes. "That's why you're going to have to be careful with what you wear to the Gala."
"This whole politics malarkey's a load of rubbish." Harry hissed angrily. "I didn't ask to defeat Voldemort, I just did because it was my duty."
"We know that Harry. Remember, though, that you died for the Wizarding World, though. That sacrifice will not be forgotten, even though nobody really understands it." Neville whispered. "You walked into the Forbidden Forest ready to prevent lives from being lost and die for everyone's sake, and though we all know what happened, the Wizarding World only knows that you were prepared to do this and the symbolism of that is not lost on everyone, Harry."
"Yeah, mate, Neville's right." Ron reiterated. He looked heavily at the robes and pulled out a long silk one, which made Neville swallow heavily as soon as he saw it. Harry caught sight of the look on his boyfriend's face and smirked widely. Ron looked between Neville and Harry and then moaned, as if in pain.
"You can keep your looks filled with dirty promise between you. Just because I'm okay with you two being together does not mean that you can exchange looks like that." Ron said, looking alarmed. "I think that's sorted, then. I'll leave you two to sort out everything else. Cheerio!" Ron waved his hand absently and walked out of the room.
As soon as Harry heard the Floo chime in the distance he waved his wand and Banished all his clothes except for the silk robe to his and Neville cupboard. He then pulled Neville into a tight hug and tugged him gently into a lying down position, with their backs against the headboard. Neville had his head on Harry's shoulder and Harry's hand was twirling a lock of Neville's hair.
"How could you tell?" Neville asked softly. Harry smiled and kissed the top of his boyfriend's head, pausing for a moment before replying.
"You were really hung up about appearances, and you're not usually like that." Harry turned around so that he was looking at Neville in the eyes. "I know you, Nev, in a way that Ron or anyone else doesn't. And I know when you're worried about something. He ran a finger along Neville's forehead. "You start frowning and you get this anxious look in your eyes, where they start darting around. What's wrong?"
"It's about how everyone's going to react to you and me together." Neville whispered. "This is like an announcement of a betrothal, Harry, stepping out into the Wizarding World with me by your side. It's a big deal. House Longbottom has never been in the limelight so obviously before and I have to represent it. I also have to do you justice, Harry, and what if I don't? What if I mess up?" He looked beseechingly at Harry, who took a deep breath.
"Nev, I love you." Harry squeezed both of Neville's hands emphatically to make a point. "I love you and I don't give a rat's arse what everyone else thinks. You stood up to bloody Voldemort himself, love. If the Wizarding World can't cut you any slack now, then they won't know what hit them. And you've told me that everyone here's a lot more open about homosexuality in the Muggle World because there are blood adoptions and inheritance potions which are the same thing as actually giving birth to the child."
Neville chuckled ruefully.
"You're right. It doesn't stop me from being scared."
"No. And I imagine you were terrified when the Sorting Hat started burning on your head, Nev. A load of bureaucrats has nothing on what you've already been through. And Kingsley will have the head of anyone who so much as breathes incorrectly."
"Kingsley's very fond of you, Harry." Neville mused. It was true. The Minister for Magic had taken on a rather fatherly role in Harry's life, one that had been sorely lacking before. Having had no children himself, Kingsley and his wife had undertaken to make sure that Harry felt comfortable around them, something that Kingsley especially had never been able to do properly during the War. Neville knew how much Harry had come to love and appreciate Kingsley's support in the few months after the War had ended.
"I know, and that's why tomorrow's going to be our day, no matter what I project. And you know, it's not me who's going to have all that influence, Nev. As much as those two titles belong to me, they also belong to you. And Merlin knows that you have a sight more knowledge than I do about Wizarding politics, so you're going to be the one advising me what to do with all that influence you seem to think I have."
"We'll share it, Harry." Neville moved suddenly so that he was straddling Harry. "We're going to share our influence."
Harry wrapped a hand around Neville's neck and started kissing him fiercely.
"I love you, so much."
"So do I."
Hermione sat down hesitantly on her designated seat and looked up at the rather imposing podium on the raised dais in the Atrium of the Ministry. She knew that thousands of wizards and witches and their families would be listening to the broadcast and the image that each wireless had been charmed to project and in the Ministry alone there were at least two thousand there to listen to her best friend's speech. She had yet to see Harry and Neville and knew that Kingsley would have briefed them exactly on how to make the perfect entrance.
Beside her, she could see Ron pulling at the sleeves of his elegant dress robes. They had had the award ceremony, where anyone who had done anything worthwhile in the War had been given money and awards – including Hermione and Ron – and there had been a very long speech given by Kingsley about exactly what Harry, Ron and Hermione had done. After a lot of deliberation, they had kept the information about the Horcruxes a secret as they were worried what that information leaked out could potentially do. Both Hermione and Ron had given a small speech and had got a standing ovation. Now all that they were waiting for was Harry to appear.
"You think that he was watching?" Ron asked.
"Of course. Kingsley told me that Harry would watch the whole awards ceremony and reading out of the fates of all the Death Eaters and stuff. It's this last bit that Harry will actually be in the room."
"He's going to moan about this for ages. He hates the limelight." Ron pointed out. Hermione nodded.
"He knows that he's got to do this, though. It's important." Hermione answered. Ron chuckled and then his shoulders started shaking.
"It's just that I wonder what his reaction was to finding out that the Lestrange vaults had been transferred to the Black vaults as the Black Family was the last pureblood family with the closest links to Bellatrix." Ron snorted and Hermione had to let out a smile. Harry hated publicity, and the wealth of the Black Family was going to be the talk of the papers.
"Kingsley did try to gloss over all the money given out to everyone, though." Hermione commented. "He must hate all this pomp and ceremony. He's just like Harry, except a bit better at politics."
Suddenly, the Atrium went completely quiet as Kingsley stepped up onto the podium.
"Everyone, if I could have your attention please." The last few people talking went deathly silent.
"Everyone knows the debt that we owe Harry Potter. I don't need to tell you all again. So without further ado, I give to you Harry Potter, Saviour of the Wizarding World and his partner Neville Longbottom!" Kingsley stepped aside and Harry walked up onto the platform with Neville standing right beside him.
Hermione got to her feet and vaguely saw people around her doing the same. Neville and Harry made a powerful sight, standing up there, dressed to match. Among the clapping and the cheering, Hermione could hear muttering among the crowd about Neville; something she knew that they had both expected.
Harry stepped forward to the podium and held up his hands for silence. The whole room sat back down and there wasn't a sound to be heard.
"Thank you." Harry's voice rang out, strong, echoing. There was a confidence to it that Hermione had never heard before and she glanced at Ron.
"There are many people who should be up here with me, who should be in this room with me. But since I am the person up here instead of them, I will say what I think they would want to hear." Harry looked around the room, and Hermione could almost imagine him thinking of Sirius, Remus, Fred, Hedwig, Tonks, Moody, all those who had died to help defeat Voldemort.
"Thank you to all the people who gave their lives for this cause. No words convey the depth of my feelings for all of you. Families torn apart, families left without fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, and siblings; I know how you feel. My family was torn apart by Lord Voldemort and I pledge to you that I will make the Wizarding World a better place for you. This is especially for my godson Teddy Lupin, who lost both his father and mother. You all died to make this a better place for your loved ones, and your sacrifice is not in vain.
"I pledge my support to a better world. I know that that's it's not immediate, and that human nature is going to get in our way, but I invite all of you out there to help rebuild our system so that we can work in a better environment and prevent such horrors happening ever again. I will do my very best to give justice to those who gave up their lives for this.
"Most of all though, I would like to tell you that everyone here is a hero. You all fought for something you believed in and lived to tell the tale. That is what makes you a hero above all. You fought for something you wanted, whether it be selfish or no, and you've come out of it. So I thank you."
Harry inclined his head and stepped backwards, reaching out for Neville's hand. Neville took it and Hermione knew that everyone clapping for Harry was irrelevant to him. All that mattered to her friend was that Neville was there to support him. And her and Ron, but Neville had a higher priority now, and Hermione accepted that.
Later, those with the exclusive invitations filed into the Ministry ballroom for the most important part of the evening. Dancing had always been a very important tradition for wizards and witches, Harry knew, and as he would be opening the dance, he knew that the responsibility on his shoulders was quite large.
Beside him, Neville twined their fingers together and leaned over to whisper something in Harry's ear.
"Don't step on my feet."
Harry chuckled feebly, understanding Neville's desire to calm Harry down. He brushed imaginary dust off his shoulder and Neville's robes and then nodded at Kingsley.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I welcome you to the official celebration of Lord Voldemort's demise!" Kingsley announced, his voice booming out and echoing in the large ballroom. Everyone with a glass raised it to the ceiling, echoing Kingsley's words. "Harry Potter to open the dance!"
Harry stepped forward with Neville on his arm. They bowed deeply to each other and waited for the music to start. Harry was acutely aware of the eyes boring into him and Neville, but as soon as the music started they faded into the background.
He and Neville had practiced this dance for hours before the Gala, until Harry knew the steps so well he could have done them in his sleep. He led Neville through the intricate moves, holding his boyfriend's hand in his and looking deep into his eyes.
"I love you, Nev." Harry murmured. Neville's eyes shone brightly in the light of the ballroom and defying all of the dancing etiquette there had ever been in the Wizarding World, he stopped and pulled Harry to him.
With the cream of Wizarding Britain watching, Neville Longbottom kissed Harry Potter, announcing his intentions loud and clear.
A/N: I'm just going to leave it at that then!